Plate-type heat exchanger and support structure thereof

ABSTRACT

A plate-type heat exchanger includes a casing having a chamber therein; and a support structure in the chamber and including a plurality of frameworks, any two of the frameworks distributing to each other at a distance; and a plurality of support portions, the support portions connecting with the frameworks in order to surround a plurality of hollow areas and being vertical, each of the support portions and each of the frameworks being combined by means of a twisted stagger; wherein the upper and lower positions of the support portion form an urging edge respectively, the two urging edges being against the upper inner side and the lower inner side of the casing respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a heat conducting component, more particularly to a plate-type heat exchanger and a support structure thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A plate-type heat exchanger normally includes a vapor chamber, a flat-type heat pipe or plate-type heat pipe, and etc. Such heat exchanger mainly has a flat and hollow casing, the casing has a chamber for accommodating a capillary tissue and a working fluid, and a support structure is normally disposed in the casing, hence, when the plate-type heat exchanger engages in a vacuum operation, the surface of the flat casing being sunk will be avoided. If the sunken surface happens and when the surface contacts with components that generates heat, gaps between the surface and components may accommodate air so as to reduce the effect of heat exchange.

However, the support structure of a conventional plate-type heat exchanger is composed of a plurality of pillars distributed in the casing, or a waved thin plate. Such kinds of support structures are disadvantage to assembly, support strength or support effect. For example, the support structure made by distributing pillars, since there are no structure connections among the pillars, so it is not good to the assembly of the casing; and the waved support structure has short support strength, so that the flatness of the casing is hardly maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a plate-type heat exchanger and a support structure thereof. The present invention adopts a plurality of support portions that vertically stand in a casing of the plate-type heat exchanger in order to form a support structure for better support.

To achieve above objective, the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention comprises a casing having a chamber therein; and a support structure in the chamber and comprising: a plurality of frameworks, any two of the frameworks distributing to each other at a distance; and a plurality of support portions, the support portions connecting with the frameworks in order to surround a plurality of hollow areas and being vertical, each of the support portions and each of the frameworks being combined by means of a twisted stagger; wherein the upper and lower positions of the support portion form an urging edge respectively, the two urging edges being against the upper inner side and the lower inner side of the casing respectively.

According to one aspect, the support structure of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention is composed of a plate and disposed in the plate-type heat exchanger, and comprises a base; and a plurality of urging portions extending from one side of the base, each of the urging portions being hollow and connecting to another side of the base, and each of the urging portions having a plurality of support ribs extending from the side of the base, wherein the side forms the plurality of urging portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, spirits, and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be readily understood by the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptions, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective exploded view of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the support structure of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of internal heat exchange of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic top view of a first embodiment of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic top view of a second embodiment of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following preferred embodiments and figures will be described in detail so as to achieve aforesaid objects.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which illustrates a perspective exploded view of the plate-type heat exchanger of the present invention. The present invention provides the plate-type heat exchanger and a support structure thereof. The plate-type heat exchanger can be a vapor chamber, a flat heat pipe or a plate-type heat pipe and has a casing 1 and a support structure 2 that is in the casing 1 and supports the casing 1, wherein the casing 1 for the embodiment of the present invention further has a first casing plate 10 and a second casing plate 11 covering with the first casing plate 10, and a chamber 12, surrounded and sealed by the first casing plate 10 and the second casing plate 11, is between the first casing plate 10 and the second casing plate 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner surface of the chamber 12 is affixed two capillary tissues 100, 110, and the two capillary tissues 100, 110 can be trenches, wire meshes, sintered powders, or other composite types, in addition, a working fluid is contained in the chamber 12 of the plate-type heat exchanger, not shown in figure.

The support structure 2 can be formed by punching and bending a plate, such as a metal plate. Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The support structure 2 has a plurality of frameworks 20 and a plurality of support portions 21, any two of the frameworks 20 distribute to each other at a distance, and each of the support portions 21 connects with the two adjacent frameworks 20, wherein the frameworks 20 are horizontally or slantwise arranged at a same horizontal level, the support portions 21 connect with the frameworks 20 in order to surround a plurality of hollow areas 23, hence each of the frameworks 20 or the support portions 21 is formed by punching and bending aforesaid plate and removing the material of the hollow areas 23. Moreover, the support portions 21 are vertical, that is, the bending formation of aforesaid plate is to twist a certain angle, such as 90 degrees, to the support portions 21, so as to provide a twisted stagger for the combination of the support portions 21 and the frameworks 20, and no matter the support portions 21 or the frameworks 20 are vertical or horizontal, for the embodiment of the present invention, both the frameworks 20 and the support portions 21 are able to further dispose one or more through holes 200, 210, which effectively enhance the circulations of the working fluid in the chamber 12 of the plate-type heat exchanger for phase variations and heat exchange, as shown in FIG. 4. Further, since the support portion 21 is twisted to form, a twisted connecting end (211) is between each of the two ends of the support portion (21) and each of the two ends of the framework (20).

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The support structures 2 are disposed in the chambers 12 between the first casing plate 10 and the second casing plate 11, the upper and lower positions of each of the support portions (21) of the support structure 2 form an urging edge (212) respectively, and the two urging edges (212) are against the upper inner side and the lower inner side of the casing (1) respectively, such as the two capillary tissues 100, 110 of the first casing plate 10 and the second casing plate 11, so that the casing 1 is effectively supported. Further, since the support portions 21 are vertical, the support portions 21 provide excellent supports and strength to urge the chamber 12 in the casing 1 in order to have greater forces to maintain the distance between the first casing plate 10 and the second casing plate 11 and avoid the problems of the first casing plate 10 and the second casing plate 11 being sunk, and etc.

As that of assembling aforesaid parts, the plate-type heat exchanger and the support structure thereof can be achieved.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the support portions 21 connect with the frameworks 20 in order to surround the plurality of hollow areas 23, and each of the hollow areas 23 can be a quadrilateral or a triangle. Other shapes can be options as well and increase the amount of the support portions 21 for better support.

Although the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principles involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. This invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A plate-type heat exchanger, comprising: a casing (1), having a chamber (12) therein; and a support structure (2), being in the chamber (12) and comprising: a plurality of frameworks (20), any two of the frameworks (20) distributing to each other at a distance; and a plurality of support portions (21), the support portions (21) connecting with the frameworks (20) in order to surround a plurality of hollow areas (23) and being vertical, each of the support portions (21) and each of the frameworks (20) being combined by means of a twisted stagger; wherein the upper and lower positions of each support portion (21) form an urging edge (212) respectively, two urging edges (212) being against the upper inner side and the lower inner side of the casing (1) respectively.
 2. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the casing (1) comprises a first casing plate (10) and a second casing plate (11) covering with the first casing plate (10), the chamber (12) being between the first casing plate (10) and the second casing plate (11).
 3. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the chamber (12) is affixed a capillary tissue, a working fluid being contained in the chamber (12).
 4. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the frameworks (20) are horizontally or slantwise arranged at a same horizontal level.
 5. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a twisted angle of each of the support portions (21) or each of the frameworks (20) is 90 degrees.
 6. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein a twisted connecting end (211) is formed between each of the two ends of the support portion (21) and each of the two ends of the framework (20).
 7. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the support structure (2) is formed by punching and bending a plate.
 8. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the plate is made of metal.
 9. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the framework (20) has at least one through hole (200).
 10. The plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the support portion (21) has at least one through hole (210).
 11. A support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger, comprising: a plurality of frameworks (20), any two of the frameworks (20) distributing to each other at a distance; and a plurality of support portions (21), the support portions (21) connecting with the frameworks (20) in order to surround a plurality of hollow areas and being vertical, each of the support portions (21) and each of the frameworks (20) being combined by means of a twisted stagger.
 12. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the frameworks (20) are horizontally or slantwise arranged at a same horizontal level.
 13. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein a twisted angle of each of the support portions (21) or each of the frameworks (20) is 90 degrees.
 14. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein a twisted connecting end (211) is between each of the two ends of the support portion (21) and each of the two ends of the framework (20).
 15. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the support structure (2) is formed by punching and bending a plate.
 16. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 15, wherein the plate is made of metal.
 17. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the framework (20) has at least one through hole (200).
 18. The support structure of a plate-type heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the support portion (21) has at least one through hole (210). 